Whole Health
Whole Health focuses on what matters most to each of us. It empowers people through mindful awareness and self-care, recognizing the fundamental importance of healthy nutrition, activity, sleep, relationships, surroundings, and many other areas of our lives that contribute to our health and wholeness. Whole Health supports patient-centered, proactive, whole-person care. Conventional testing and treatment are combined with complementary and integrative health strategies such as yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture. Whole Health resources can support everyone in their journey toward optimal health.
Kansas City VA Medical Center proudly offers the following:
Whole Health Pathway:
Veterans explore their mission, aspiration, and purpose (MAP) and begin building their Personal Health Plan (PHP). The Pathway includes the following classes:
Introduction to Whole Health: Introduces important information about the Whole Health approach and available offerings.
Taking Charge of My Life and Health (TCMLH): Allows the veteran to explore what matters most in their life.
Whole Health Clinical Care:
Within Whole Health, conventional medicine is used alongside Complimentary and Integrative Health (CIH) offerings and personalized health planning to provide a veteran-centered, innovative approach to self and overall care.
CIH Services: acupuncture, biofeedback, clinical hypnosis, guided imagery, massage, therapy, meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, and chiropractic care.
Health Coaching: Individual and/or group coaching services.
Advance Care Planning via Group Visit (ACP-GV) class: Answers questions about Advanced Care Planning and Advanced Directives (AD)for health care decision making.
Loved ones are welcome to attend.
Whole Health Well Being Programs:
Well-Being classes are open to all veterans regardless of diagnosis or enrollment in other Whole Health offerings. Well-Being classes equip veterans with skills, tools, and resources to self-manage their health and well-being. Skills developed include- Happiness, mindfulness, positive thinking, physical health, building meaningful social connections.
To get started in the Wellbeing Programs and Classes a Whole Health Wellbeing Consult is Required. Talk to a Kansas City VA Healthcare Provider to request a Wellbeing Consult.
Creative Writing
DESCRIPTION: 8-week introductory class on learning how to write creatively. Learn the basics of fiction, character development, setting, plot, poetry and more. Have an opportunity to share your writings with your peers in class and get positive feedback.
LOCATION: Honor Annex
PROVIDER: Rich Vogt, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Gentle Yoga
DESCRIPTION: Gentle Yoga is essentially what it sounds like---a gentler style of hatha yoga practice. It is performed at a slower pace, with less intense positions, and usually includes extended time for meditation, breath work, and relaxation. A Whole Health Wellbeing Consult or Outpatient Recreation Therapy Consult is needed to participate in the Water Aerobics program.
LOCATION: Honor Annex (F2F) and Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Morning Yoga
DESCRIPTION: Many people find that practicing yoga in the morning helps them start their day feeling refreshed and energized. However, it is important to listen to your body and start with gentle movements if you're feeling stiff and groggy. During this class Veterans will be lead through a warmup, standing, floor poses, cool down and ending with a Savasana (relaxation pose). The KCVA Morning yoga offers a blend between gentle yoga and yoga flow all individual needs.
LOCATION: Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Photography
DESCRIPTION: Whole Health has partnered with Monkey Brain Photography to offer an 8-week art course learning a variety of Photography skills. This Photography program focuses on calming the mind, students will be lead through a 15-minute mindfulness practice each class before attending 1.5 hour lectures on photography. Classes will discuss how to work your camera, aperture, lighting, shutter speeds, iso's, light room, AI, and editing your finished product.
LOCATION: Honor Annex (F2F)
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Beekeeping
DESCRIPTION: The KCVA Whole Health Recreation Therapist has partnered with the Manchester VA to offer an online course about the science and practice of beekeeping, this is for beginner beekeepers. It covers bee biology and behavior, hive management, equipment, bee products , and more. Studies have shown that beekeeping helps improve anxiety, decrease depression, decrease loneliness, improve mindfulness awareness.
LOCATION: Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Water Aerobics
DESCRIPTION: Water aerobics classes offers a combination of cardiovascular, strengthening and flexibility exercises performed in shallow water. The buoyancy of water minimizes the effects of gravity thereby reducing stress on joints and muscles while offering all the wonderful benefits of exercise. Recreation Therapist lead a one-hour class of fun and fitness utilizing your own body weight, Styrofoam dumbbells and noodles for improved endurance, balance and flexibility. Water exercise is beneficial to most and individuals with orthopedic conditions, pain, overweight and reduced mobility.
LOCATION: Kirk Family YMCA
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Bowling
DESCRIPTION: Wellbeing program in which Veterans learn the basics of Bowling, bowling techniques, rules, and bowling etiquette. Veterans will have an opportunity to play at a bowling alley at Main Event North Kansas City. Program will also focus on improving leisure activity and strengthening fine/gross motor skills, improve social opportunities, stress relief, and hand -eye coordination.
LOCATION: Main Event North
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Guitars for Vets
DESCRIPTION: This 10-week program is an introductory class teaching the basics of guitar. Learn about finger placement, basic chords, progressions, song structure and more. Music Therapy is shown to promote health benefits particularly for PTSD, Anxiety, and Depression. Acoustic guitar is provided for the duration of the program.
LOCATION: Honor VA Clinic
PROVIDER: Rich Vogt, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Healing Touch Clinic
DESCRIPTION: Healing Touch is a relaxing, nurturing energy therapy. Gentle touch assists in balancing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Healing Touch works with your energy field to support your natural ability to heal. It is safe for all ages and works in harmony with standard medical care. It has assisted people deal with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD and many other illnesses.
(Appointment Required)
LOCATIONS: Honor Annex, Lenexa VA Clinic, Shawnee VA Clinic
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Yoga Flow
DESCRIPTION: Yoga Flow or Vinyasa yoga is the most cardio-centric yoga that we offer. Most flow classes feature planks, push-ups, sun salutations, twist, up dogs and down dogs. But the class is not just about movement, expect to find moments of meditative stillness as well as longer stretching sequence and core work.
LOCATION: Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Chair Yoga
DESCRIPTION: Chair Yoga, a gentle form of yoga that's done while seated or using a chair for balance, makes the practice more accessible. In Chair Yoga, it's possible to move into poses like cat/cow, warrior, sun salutations and forward folds, all while seated. You are there to work and to challenge yourself, but it is about knowing what's right for you. All yoga poses can be made to adapt to the individual and their body, not the other way around. Whether yoga is done in a chair or on the mat, the practice still focuses on the same core principles: focusing on your breath, paying attention to your thoughts, and staying in the moment.
LOCATION: Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Yoga Nidra
DESCRIPTION: Not all yoga involves holding poses for periods of time. Yoga nidra is modern usage in a state of consciousness between wake and sleeping, typically induced by guided meditation. Yoga nidra works with the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates processes of the body that take place without a conscious effort (heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and blood flow). This system also includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
LOCATION: Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
All Accessible Yoga
DESCRIPTION: This class is designed to make yoga accessible to all people. This class is focuses on the breath and mindfulness movement. Poses are designed to be able to be done standing, sitting or lying down.
LOCATION: Appointment Required/Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Elisa Johnson, Whole Health Coach
Tai Chi Basics
DESCRIPTION: Basic Tai Chi is a practice that involves a series of slow gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. During Tai Chi Basics you will learn 4 Tai Chi Moves for lower back pain, 4 Tai Chi movements for neck and shoulder pain, and 4 Tai Chi moves for Rehabilitation. Tai Chi originated as an ancient martial art in China. Over the years, it has become more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation. Most of all of our Tai Chi classes practice the yang style of Tai Chi.
LOCATION: Honor Annex (F2F), Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Tai Chi
DESCRIPTION: Tai Chi is a practice that involves a series of slow gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Tai Chi originated as an ancient martial art in China. Over the years, it has become more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation. Tai Chi is often described as "meditation in motion" because it promotes serenity through gentle movements--- connecting the mind and body. During this class you will be lead through a series of tai chi movements while listening to fun upbeat music in the background.
LOCATION: Virtual Care Manager
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Equine Therapy Program
DESCRIPTION: (Groundwork Only, This is NOT a Riding Program)
8-Week Sessions Equine Therapy Program. Horses have long been used for recreation therapy purposes, but equestrian therapy is also to treat a variety of emotional and physical issues, such as those associated with addiction, PTSD, TBI’s, and a variety of mental illnesses. Bonding with a horse is a singularly buoying experience, giving patients an outlet for their fears and anxieties while promoting leadership skills and responsibility. Because horses have unique personalities just like the patients that they are helping, there is no limit to the ways in which horses can help humans cope with life’s difficulties.
Seasonal, Appointment Required
PROVIDER: Erin Rule-Miller, CTRS, Recreation Therapist & Rich Vogt, CTRS, Recreation Therapist
Art
DESCRIPTION: Whole Health has partnered with Monkey Brain Art to offer a 4-week art course learning a variety of art making skills. This Art program focuses on calming the mind, students will be lead through a 15-minute mindfulness practice each class before practicing art with a variety of mediums. All materials needed will be provided for you.
LOCATION: Honor Annex (F2F)
PROVIDER: Recreation Therapist
Adaptive Rock Climbing
DESCRIPTION: KCVA has partnered with Adaptive Adventures to offer a monthly Rock-Climbing experience. Veterans meet at the indoor climbing gym where they learn how to rock climb. Veterans can increase their strength, endurance and confidence while engaging in this fun activity. Adaptive equipment and assistance is available for Veterans with amputations and/or Spinal Cord injuries.
LOCATION: ROKC Climbing Gym North
PROVIDER: Recreation Therapist
For more information, please contact Whole Health by email or call 816-861-4700, ext. 59651
